Doom of Valyria

The Doom of Valyria, often called the Doom,[1][2] was a cataclysm of an unspecified nature that caused the collapse of the Valyrian Freehold, which had been prospering for five thousand years. It occurred approximately a century before Aegon's Conquest of Westeros, in 114 BC. Spells, knowledge, and recorded history were lost in the Doom, and the Century of Blood followed the disaster.

The Doom

The Doom

On the day of the Doom, every hill for five hundred miles exploded, filling the air with ash and smoke and fire, which killed even dragons. Earthquakes destroyed palaces, temples, and towns, while lakes boiled or turned to acid. The Fourteen Flames, the fiery mountains of Valyria, sent molten rock a thousand feet into the air, and red clouds rained down dragonglass. The cataclysm fragmented the Valyrian peninsula surrounding Valyria into numerous smaller islands and creating the Smoking Sea between them.[5] East of Valyria, Velos and Ghozai on the Isle of Cedars were destroyed by a tsunami.[6]

It is commonly believed that the Doom was a natural calamity caused by the eruption of the Fourteen Flames, although some septons believe the polytheistic Valyrians delved too deep to the seven hells. Alternatively, Septon Barth and some maesters believe that Valyrian spells controlling the Fourteen Flames faltered. Other explanations include the curse of Garin the Great, the fire of R'hllor, or infighting dragonlords assassinating fire mages.[3]

Some dragonlords in Lys and Tyrosh survived the Doom, but they were soon killed along with their dragons.[3] The dragonlord Aurion declared himself Emperor of Valyria and led a host from Qohor toward Valyria, but he and his followers were not seen again.[3]Tommen II Lannister, King of the Rock, vanished while sailing to Valyria with his blade, Brightroar, and Gerion Lannister later disappeared while searching for Brightroar.[11] It is thus said that no one has returned from a journey to the ruins of Valyria, and even the most hardened sailors shudder at the thought of sailing to ruined Valyria.[12]

A Storm of Swords

A Feast for Crows

Euron Greyjoy claims to have reaved all over the world during his exile, including a trip to the feared ruins of Valyria. During the kingsmoot he claims to have found the dragon horn among the smoking ruins that were Valyria, where no man has dared to walk but him.[17]

Quotes

Every man there knew that the Doom still ruled Valyria. The very sea there boiled and smoked, and the land was overrun with demons. It was said that any sailor who so much as glimpsed the fiery mountains of Valyria rising above the waves would soon die a dreadful death, yet the Crow's Eye had been there, and returned.[12]

Storms. Three big storms, and foul winds between. Red winds out of Valyria that smelled of ash and brimstone, and black winds that drove us toward that blighted shore. This voyage was cursed from the first.[6]